BayKart • Nov 29, 2025

BayKart Hosts Smart Agripreneurs’ Academy for First Strategy Meeting on Papaya4Schools Initiative 2026

BayKart and the Smart Agripreneurs’ Academy convened to kick off planning for the Papaya4Schools Initiative 2026, a pilot that will train students in papaya cultivation, nursery management, and agribusiness across 15 Gambian schools.

Summary: The meeting launched planning for a 2026 pilot across 15 schools in the Lower River and West Coast regions, aiming to establish 1,000–1,500 papaya trees and contribute to BayKart's national target of 5,000 trees.

Meeting highlights

BayKart hosted the Smart Agripreneurs’ Academy team for the first joint strategy meeting for the Papaya4Schools Initiative 2026. The session marked the official kick-off of planning for the pilot which will be rolled out across up to 15 schools in the Lower River Region (LRR) and the West Coast Region.

Representatives from both organisations discussed curriculum, nursery logistics, seedling production, and ways to connect participating schools to BayKart’s marketplace. A Grade 9 student travelled several kilometres to attend the meeting - a heartfelt reminder of the initiative's importance in inspiring young Gambians.

Closing

BayKart extends gratitude to the Smart Agripreneurs’ Academy team for their commitment and expertise. This collaboration represents the beginning of a nationwide movement that places youth at the center of agricultural transformation.